CAIE IGCSE Physics Wave Speed Calculations
Practise applying v = fλ to water, sound, electromagnetic and seismic waves, with equation rearrangement and careful prefix and length conversion.
- Syllabus
- 2026–2028
- Course
- Physics 0625
Practise applying v = fλ to water, sound, electromagnetic and seismic waves, with equation rearrangement and careful prefix and length conversion.
A ray of light is incident on a soap film. Fig. 5.1 shows a magnified image of a small part of the soap film. The ray of light is refracted as it enters the soap film.

soap film
```
air
```
The refractive index of the soap film is 1.28 .
The ray of light is monochromatic red light with a wavelength of 680 nm in air.
Calculate the frequency of the light.
4.4 x 10^14 Hz
A3
(speed of light / e-m waves is approximately) 3.0 x 10^8 m / s (in air)
C1
v=f R(f=) 3.0 x 10^8 / 680 x 10^-9
C1